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Pathway models could aid management of contaminants

Interagency Ecological Program Newsletter
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Abstract

Heavy metal and trace organic contaminants are often cited as factors that could affect the riclmess of the biological community of San Francisco Bay as well as the health of resident organisms. Silver (Ag), selenium (Se), mercury (Hg), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), and cadmium (Cd) are among the trace elements of current regulatory interest. All these elements can be toxic to estuarine organisms in minute quantities. However, understanding their toxicity in nature has proven a difficult challenge. In general, it is difficult to prove how pollutants are affecting ecosystems. The undisturbed "baseline" condition in San Francisco Bay is not always well enough understood to identify whether certain processes are affected or unaffected by contamination. Sources of disturbance (flow diversions, drought, invasion of exotic species, etc.) occur in addition to chemical contamination. Responses to contamination in individual organisms, populations, and commumties are seldom pollutant-specific, and the complex responses to moderate levels of contamination are not well known.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Pathway models could aid management of contaminants
Series title Interagency Ecological Program Newsletter
Year Published 1995
Language English
Publisher Interagency Ecological Program for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Estuary
Publisher location San Francisco, CA
Contributing office(s) San Francisco Bay-Delta, Toxic Substances Hydrology Program, Pacific Regional Director's Office
Description 3 p.
First page 6
Last page 8
Country United States
State California
Other Geospatial San Francisco Bay
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
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